Joe Epstein/The Star-LedgerFormer Newark Deputy Mayor Ronald Salahuddin, pictured in this file photo, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit extortion at his corruption trial but acquitted of all other charges.

NEWARK — Following a decades-long career in law enforcement, former Newark Deputy Mayor Ronald Salahuddin faces 20 years in federal prison after a jury found him guilty Friday of conspiring to commit extortion.

Though Salahuddin, 61, and his co-defendant Sonnie Cooper were convicted of conspiracy, both men were acquitted of all other charges in their month-long federal corruption trial, including attempted conspiracy and bribery. The verdict rendered in U.S. District Court in Trenton Friday baffled defendants and attorneys alike.

"It defies all logic," said Thomas Ashley, Salahuddin’s lawyer, questioning how his client could be innocent of attempted conspiracy but convicted of conspiracy. He said he and Cooper’s lawyer, Alan Zegas, will seek a new trial.

The trial, which began Sept. 7, focused on dozens of FBI surveillance tapes Mazzocchi made between July 2006 and December 2007. After getting caught allegedly bribing numerous public and private officials, Mazzocchi agreed to wear a wire for the FBI, officials have said.

On the tapes, Salahuddin is seen and heard telling Mazzocchi he will help him get city demolition contracts, as well as work around the Prudential Arena, if Mazzocchi subcontracts work to Cooper, 69, Salahuddin’s alleged business partner.

The former deputy mayor also encouraged Mazzocchi to donate thousands of dollars to Newark Now and Empower Newark, two groups with close ties to Mayor Cory Booker, according to the tapes.

Salahuddin, a former detective with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, was appointed in 2006 to be Newark’s deputy mayor for public safety, after Booker won his first mayoral term.

"Salahuddin and Cooper schemed to steer contracts that put their business interests ahead of the public interest," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said in a statement. "The people of New Jersey deserve better. The jury’s verdict echoes our own commitment to hold accountable those who abuse their authority."

In their February 2010 indictment, Salahuddin and Cooper were accused of using Salahuddin’s position to influence contract awards. They were also charged with attempted conspiracy and several bribery charges.

Throughout the trial, assistant U.S. attorneys James Nobile, Harvey Bartle and Zahid Quraishi contended Salahuddin used his position as a high-level city official to illegally steer work to Mazzocchi and Cooper. They also said the donations Mazzocchi made constituted bribes. Mazzocchi has not been charged with any crime.

But defense lawyers Ashley and Zegas argued Salahuddin derived no financial benefit from Cooper’s business and that he was merely following a city hall mandate to ensure minorities participate in city contracts. They said the verdict was misguided.

"We just feel that it’s a gross miscarriage of justice that these two men were seen as extorting Mr. Mazzocchi," Ashley said, pointing out the contractor approached Salahuddin and Cooper with the arrangement. "It’s hard to understand how he could have been the victim."

Salahuddin and Cooper are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8, 2012.

Jury forewoman Theresa Ross said the decision was not easy, but the panel was definitely united.

"There were some charges that were hard, but I think we all came together to make the right decision," Ross said Friday. "It was very difficult."

Jurors deliberated for two and a half days, asking several questions along the way.

"It is a sad day for the city of Newark," Booker said of the verdict in a statement. "Our citizens deserve more. My administration will continue its efforts to prevent and root out any wrongdoing by public officials, no matter what position they hold."